GWU football adds 18

Gardner-Webb head football coach Carroll McCray announced an 18-man recruiting class on Wednesday, National Signing Day, with six enrolled for the spring semester.

The class includes student-athletes from seven states, American Samoa and Australia.

“We are excited about this group,” said McCray, who was introduced as head coach on January 28. “Coming in at the end of January, we sat down and evaluated the young men who had chosen Gardner-Webb prior to our arrival, and came away impressed with the quality of these guys on the field. The strong character we encountered when meeting with and speaking to them gave us a lot of confidence in the type of young men we are adding to the program. There is no doubt they will help us on and off the field.”

Gardner-Webb added five defensive backs, six linemen – three on each side of the football – one linebacker and six offensive skill players.

Two of the lineman hail from outside the Continental United States. Defensive tackle Phillip Fata (6-3, 290, Jr.) played high school football at Samoana High in American Samoa before spending time at Golden West College in California.

Offensive tackle Jordan Stalker (6-5, 295, Fr.) is the first football player to sign with Gardner-Webb from Australia. He was a member of the IFAF World Development Team training camp and was courted by several major programs – including Hawaii, Colorado State and Georgia Tech.